Hoffenheim complete first-half comeback to defeat Leipzig

RB Leipzig succumbed to only their second Bundesliga defeat of the season in a 3-1 loss to TSG Hoffenheim this afternoon.

RB Leipzig made the trip to Sinsheim to take on a TSG Hoffenheim side similarly in pursuit of the Bundesliga’s European positions. In the end, it was Christian Ilzer’s men who sprung a surprise on their high-flying visitors as Hajdari, Lemperle and Prömel secure a 3-1 win. 

Leipzig’s dominance was evident from the first whistle as Antonio Nusa went close from a tight angle. Hoffenheim had a chance of their own through Grisha Prömel, but it was the visitors who scored in the 9th-minute. Assan Ouédraogo fed Diomandé who cut inside Bernardo and curled past Baumann. 

The Leipzig lead only lasted for the guts of eleven minutes when Hoffenheim made it 1-1. A ball to the back post from Toure was driven back across goal by Wouter Burger for Albian Hajdari to convert inside the six-yard box. Raum and Rômulo almost combined on the half-hour but Baumann read the chipped effort. 

Six minutes out from the break and Peter Gulacsi was hooking the ball out of his net once again. Vladimir Coufal founds acres of space on the right to curl the ball onto the head of Tim Lemperle. He guided it back into the lower-left corner giving the Hungarian shot-stopper no chance. 

Similar to the start of the first-half, the action after the break took on a mirror-like existence. Nusa went on a mazy run but ultimately blazed over the bar, while Yan Diomandé’s last involvement forced a fine save from Baumann at his near post. Ilzer also called upon Fisnik Asllani on for the hosts. 

The Kosovan substitute thought he extended their lead only for Alex Prass to be in Gulacsi’s line of sight. However, Asllani turned provider to square for Prömel who made sure of victory with a delightful finish. Leipzig thought they cut the deficit back to one with the next attack but Rômulo strayed just offside before the pass.